Today’s Devotion
Topic: Temptations
(Self Assessment 113)
Background:
Our generation is the kind that wants everything, good or bad, without the “unnecessary” restrictions that bible imposes. Thinking only of the word of God, as the stumbling block that denies us the pleasures of life.
For this reason, many of us (believers inclusive), have become more prone to nurturing wrongs thoughts, passions and actions with no regard for the consequences thereof; as long as they grant the immediate satisfaction we crave for. With time, we become entangled by these cravings that turn to haunt, destroy or cost us much more than we imagined.
Now, who will we say is responsible for all these inflamed passion and evil that comes with it? What is the ultimate price we pay for getting ourselves enticed into wanting and doing everything just to satisfy every craving that comes to thought? For answers to these and more, let’s zoom straight into our weekly bible study.
Text: James 1:13-15
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Amen.
Questions:
i. In your opinion, what is temptation? And why do we like to blame God or others but not ourselves, when we fall into one?
ii. What does it mean to say, “God can not be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone?”.
iii. So, if we are not tempted by God, who or what are we tempted by?
iv. According to 1 John 2: 16, three factors which are not from the Father, but the world, aid our wrongful desires and become relevant tools that entice our fall into sin. Explain with examples how each of these factors contribute to the temptation of man:
a) the lust of the flesh,
b) the lust of the eyes, and
c) the pride of life.
v. Read verse 14 carefully:
a) How do we get tempted?
b) Mention some of those things that should constitute as the “wrong desires” that are able to drag us into temptation.
vi. Explain the processes we go through and the final penalty we face when we are not able to subdue our desires right from their conception.
vii. What have you learned from today’s study?
Kindly reply us on this same social media platform (WhatsApp/ Facebook). We learn a great deal from the answers you share with us.
